Chinese Garden - change in leadership

24/12/2008

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin (1954-58) says he feels vindicated after ending 12 years as chairman of the Chinese Garden Trust.

Peter stepped down at the trust’s annual meeting in Dunedin last week and was replaced by fellow founding trust member and secretary/treasurer Malcolm Wong (1972-76), also of Dunedin.

Peter Chin (left) and Malcolm Wong - a changing of the guard at the Chinese Garden in Dunedin

The garden idea was conceived more than 12 years ago by Dunedin Chinese community members with the trust formed in 1997 with Peter as chairman. He led the effort to get the garden built, and said he was ‘‘exceedingly proud’’ to see it finished after years of criticism.

‘‘I think that despite all the very negative criticism over the years we have persisted, and we have now got a garden here that I and the trust are hugely proud of, and it looks like the whole community is hugely proud.’’

The garden and the trust have received a steady stream of community awards since opening on July 8, the most recent being the Not for Profit category at the Otago Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards last month.

Income from ticket sales, merchandising, food and tours reached $122,000 in the garden’s first 53 days — more than double the $1000 expected per day.

Peter said he ranked the garden as his ‘‘No 1’’ achievement in public life, but had decided to step aside to allow for ‘‘renewal’’ within the trust. He said he was determined to remain involved ‘‘as long as I feel I’m fulfilling a purpose’’.

Malcolm Wong, the new chairman, paid tribute to Mr Chin’s contribution, saying his ‘‘statesmanship, general leadership and standing in the community’’ had helped see the project to fruition.

‘‘Whilst we have all shared in terms of the glory of the garden and its success, Peter is the one who has borne the lion’s share of the unfounded criticism it has had in the past,” Malcolm said.

He was looking forward to his new role and said there was much to be done — including a book and DVD telling the story behind Dunedin’s garden and the city’s Chinese links